LIVERPOOL CELEBRATES
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson lifted the Premier League Trophy on the Kop at an empty Anfield to mark the club’s first top-flight triumph for 30 years.
Henderson received the trophy from Reds legend Sir Kenny Dalglish, who was manager when Liverpool last won it in 1990, during a spectacular ceremony after the champions beat Chelsea 5-3 on Wednesday.
Liverpool were confirmed as champions of England on June 25 with seven games to spare when nearest rivals Manchester City lost at Chelsea, but they had to wait until their final home game of the season to be presented with the trophy.
There were no supporters in their 53,000-capacity Anfield home after the Premier League season resumed on June 17 behind closed doors following a three-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Party after the virus is gone: Klopp
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has told fans to “prepare for a party”.
Fans were repeatedly warned by police to stay away from Anfield ahead of the game, with the trophy presentation broadcast on free-to-air TV, though hundreds turned out and set off fireworks outside of the ground. Inside, Liverpool made the most of the environment. Club legend Kenny Dalglish presented the trophy to winning captain Jordan Henderson before the team and coaching staff sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.
After the club anthem, Klopp was asked by Sky Sports for his message to the fans.
“If you don’t see that we do it for you I can’t help you,” he said.
“You made us happy, we all should celebrate at home. Prepare for a party and when this virus has gone we will have a party.”
“You made us happy, we all should celebrate at home. Prepare for a party and when this virus has gone we will have a party.”
Dalglish, who scored 172 goals in 515 appearances as a Liverpool player between 1977-1990, handed out medals to each player during a ceremony which involved a light show, pyrotechnics and a lot of emotions on display.
Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore said players and fans will “come together to celebrate” the title “when the time is right”.
How Liverpool won the title
It all started on August 9, 2019 when they beat newly-promoted Norwich 4-1 in the opening match of the 2019-20 Premier League season.
That result set the tone for what was to come.
Having finished one point behind champions Manchester City in 2018-19, the Reds were relentless, winning their first eight league games.
Despite travelling to Qatar for the Fifa Club World Cup in December, the Reds finished the 2019 calendar year with a 13-point lead at the top of the table.
That lead had grown to 25 points when the Premier League was suspended in March because of COVID-19. Klopp later admitted he was “worried” about the season being declared null and void during the enforced shutdown.
As it turned out, Liverpool’s tally of 82 points from 29 games when football was stopped was enough to win the title. Manchester City, who are guaranteed runnersup spot, can only finish this season with 81 points.
Wednesday’s victory over Chelsea means Liverpool are on 96 points - 18 ahead of City with one game, away at Newcastle on Sunday, to go.
London Evening Standard